Welcome!

I am an author, actor, and attorney living and loving in the DFW (metroplex) area. I love books, theatre, movies, and legalese. I've been in plays, short-films, feature films and when I am not working on my debut novel "Black Scorpion Trilogy Book 1: The Veil", I enjoy reviewing plays for The Column Online and representing the down-trodden in legal matters. Thanks for stopping by. If I can help you in anyway, just let me know. I'm your paraclete. -E-

Reviewed by Eric A.
Maskell, Associate Theater Critic for John Garcia's THE
COLUMN

____________________________FOOL FOR
LOVE__________________________

Reviewed by Eric A. Maskell,
Associate Theater Critic for John Garcia's THE COLUMN

Fool for Love,
produced by L.I.P. Service, was a riveting drama from start to finish. The drama
was intense and the acting was phenomenal. The play centers around two battling
lovers in the Mojave Desert. May is at a motel there, trying to start a new life
when Eddie comes to convince her to move with him to the farm they always
dreamed of.

The set design was outstanding and Jason Leyva did a
wonderful job. The Mojave motel room was perfectly fitted out and painted to
give the impression of a rundown rustic motel. A large wooden bed made from old
splintered wood took up much of the left stage while a weathered card table and
chairs adorned the right. Next to the card table was a large cushy chair where
The Old Man perched and waited. A large window was covered with metallic blinds
and had a neon light on the outside that simulated the lighting trim of the
motel. The set design was also replete with a rope, which Leyva did a wonderful
job roping the bed repeatedly with, a shotgun which was a foreshadowing of a
darker aspect of the drama and simulated alcohol.

Sound design by
Phyllis Huaute and Jason Leyva was well done with car noises, horse sounds and
some gunfire. The sounds seamlessly mixed with the action and the drama to
enhance the performance.

The costuming by Jason Leyva was well done as
well. The outfit worn by Leyva as Eddie was both rural and rustic symbolizing
the farmhand background from which the character originated. The outfits worn by
May were also symbolic. At the beginning of the play May was huddled covering
her face wearing a simple pajama like outfit but soon transformed into a vision
of desire in her red evening dress and red lipstick as the drama and passions
enflamed.

The lighting design by Robert Molina was masterfully done.
During one of the more intense moments the lights were repeatedly shut off by
Eddie but the audience was able to still see the action unfold.

Tanasha
Friar did a superb job as May. Her acting was powerful and intense. There were
some rough scenes that required wrestling with Leyva and she performed them
well. The confrontations were flawlesslyexecuted and the crying scenes,
while somewhat long and drawn out, felt genuine. At one point, May stared off
into the distance and recounted how she was going to murder Eddie and his
girlfriend, The Countess, which brought chills to the audience.

Jason
Leyva portrayed Eddie in an authentic and rustic manner. Leyva had a subtle
accent, leaning towards rural unsophisticated, that didn’t overpower but gave
him enough character so you could feel the farmhand in him. The confrontations
between Eddie and May didn’t feel rushed and the tension could be felt in the
audience.

Martin, May’s date for the evening, was played by Sean Massey.
I’m not sure whether the character was designed to be portrayed as dull-witted
or innocent but the overall impression was that Martin was a bit slow. Massey
did a wonderful job in his portrayal. He kept a straight face during Eddie’s
howling laughter and maintained a cool composure when Eddie was in his face and
angry.

The strangest character in the play, The Old Man, was performed
by Kit Hussey. It was difficult to tell whether this character was a figment of
Eddie and May’s imagination or if he was some crazy mass delusion. Hussey did an
excellent job in his portrayal. His southern drawl and mannerisms perfectly
accentuated the accent that Leyva portrayed with Eddie to seamlessly blend the
two characters together as father and son. Hussey also did an excellent job in
remaining static during the times that he was not an active participant in the
drama. Hussey would sit idly by in his chair motionless until the opportune time
to spring forward and impart either a comedic story or an impassioned plea for
defense.

Fool for Love is a simple one-act play. There were no scene or
set changes but it carried with it some very intense moments and
impactfulacting. L.I.P. Service’s production was a pleasure to watch.

Reviewed by Eric A. Maskell, Associate Theater Critic for John
Garcia's THE
COLUMN

__________________________________________________________

FOOL
FOR LOVEL.I.P. Service at Arts Fifth Avenue1628 Fifth Ave. Fort
Worth,TX76104Runs through June 8th

Wednesday – Saturday at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $15.00 each.

For tickets and information please call
(817) 923-9500 or go to www.jasonleyva.com.